HDR Inc. wants to build a new 16-story tower and a seven-story parking garage for its new headquarters on an old parking lot now used by the Holland Performing Arts Center at 12th and Dodge.

"I don't want to come in and say the cities going to come in and take these buildings," Stothert said. "I am not for eminent domain for something that may not be built for several years. When we started working with HDR for building their new world headquarters, we gave them multiple options for where we felt they could build their building and park it."

Some people think downtown parking will be a moot point with the completion of bus rapid transit project in 2018: a public transportation system, similar to light rail, from Westroads to downtown.

"I can easily imagine that I would drive to the restaurants, park my car get on the BRT and get downtown in 20 minutes," Sidner said. "I don't have to worry about parking. I don't have to worry about being drunk. I don't have to worry about any of that stuff. I might even take a taxi to the start of the BRT if I think I'm going to come home loaded."

On Wednesday, the Omaha Planning Board will consider HDR's redevelopment plan, so the company would qualify for tax increment financing.